What traditions exist for this? I know in Chicago we would do them for Christmas, and I know that there is a tradition in the GOA that a newly ordained priest (or sometimes deacon) will do 40 liturgies in a row.

Any historical precedent, anyone know how this developed? Any local permutations?

What traditions exist for this? I know in Chicago we would do them for Christmas, and I know that there is a tradition in the GOA that a newly ordained priest (or sometimes deacon) will do 40 liturgies in a row.

Any historical precedent, anyone know how this developed? Any local permutations?

I know of a dozen or so GOA parishes that celebrate the 40 liturgies during the Lent leading up to Christmas. Basically, in the most ethnic parishes.

It's also a pious custom for a newly ordained priest to serve 40 liturgies.

And, as far as I know, it's not an uncommon Greek and Slavic practice for pious families to request/pay for 40 Liturgies (or however many they could afford) to be celebrated for their newly departed relative. This is often related to ideas about the soul after death.

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But for I am a man not textueel I wol noght telle of textes neuer a deel. (Chaucer, The Manciple's Tale, 1.131)

My experience in America is that many newly-ordained priests will celebrate a "week of liturgies;" I suspect this hearkens back to the 40 liturgies; I figure the purpose is to just get the new priest used to serving; 40 liturgies would definately sharpen him up well, but sometimes that just isn't feasible when a priest has to juggle caring for family and other aspects of parish ministry, so a week of liturgies is the best they can do sometimes.

In Romania they-at least where I come from-they often keep the newly ordained deacon or priest at the cathedral for about 40 days to serve there daily, since it is the only place that has daily liturgy anyways.A friend though, went much faster through the process, since he had a wife with a small kid at home, that needed him.

In Romania they-at least where I come from-they often keep the newly ordained deacon or priest at the cathedral for about 40 days to serve there daily, since it is the only place that has daily liturgy anyways.A friend though, went much faster through the process, since he had a wife with a small kid at home, that needed him.

Indeed, that is a consideration. With my little one at home, and the other hustle and bustle in the parish, it was decided I'd do two weeks of Liturgies. If one includes my ordination Liturgies, I participated in Liturgy each of 16 days, and 17 in 18 days.

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